Method for separating plural sheets

ABSTRACT

Method of separating a bundle of plural sheets of material, such as a folded newspaper, including lineally advancing the bundle in a vertical plane, rotatably grabbing the bottom edges of said bundle during said advancing, and pointedly probing the leading edge of said bundle at the top during said advancing so as to separate said sheets laterally from said vertical plane. The method is particularly adapted to separating a printed newspaper prior to stuffing with inserts such as a TV guide, classified advertising, book review supplements, and the like.

D United States Patent [11] 3,781,006

Hart et al. Dec. 25, 1973 METHOD FOR SEPARATING PLURAL 3,148,877 9/1964 Brearley 271/52 SHEETS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventors! g g g g-g g if zifgi i? J 358,444 1/1962 Switzerland 270 57 e r e s [73] Assignee: American Newspaper Publishers Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Association Research Institute, Assistant ExaminerBruce l-l. Stoner, Jr. Incorporated, Easton, Pa. Att0rneyDavid H. Semmes [22] Filed: Nov. 15, 1971 21 App]. N0.: 198,931 [57] ABSTRACT Related U S Application Data Method of separating a bundle of plural sheets of mafs 75 099 S 24 1970 P N terial, such as a folded newspaper, including lineally 3 832232 1 I advancing the bundle in a vertical plane, rotatably grabbing the bottom edges of said bundle during said advancing, and pointedly probing the leading edge of z7l/lsgs27gg Said bundle at the top during Said advancing so as to Fieid 64 52 49 separate said sheets laterally from said vertical plane. 271/59; 6 The method is particularly adapted to separating a printed newspaper prior to stuffing with inserts such as 5 References Cited a TV guide, classified advertising, book review UNITED STATES PATENTS supplements, and the like.

1,883,307 10/1932 Livingston et a1. .1 270/55 1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures A. LINEALLY ADVANCING A FOLDED NEWSPAPER B ROTATABLY GRABBING THE BOTTOM EDGE WHILE ADVANCING C- POINTEDLY PROBING THE LEADING EDGE A. LINEALLY ADVANCING A FOLDED NEWSPAPER B. ROTATABLY GRABBING THE BOTTOM EDGE WHILE ADVANCING c- POINTEDLY PROBING mmmns THE LEAD\NG EDGE CHARLES HART GEORGE R. CASHAU ATTORN EY PMENTEUn'ms 01s 3.700.000 SHEET 2D? 4 nwsu'rons CHARLES H HART CEORGE R. CASHAU ATTORNEY SHEET 3 BF 4 PMENTED 00:25 1975 INVEHTORS CHARLES H. HART GEORGE R. CASHAU ATTORNEY PATENTEDmzs 197s 3.780.006

SHEET u or 4 mrwmm 9 mvsmons CHARLES H. HART GEORGE R. CASHAU ATTORNEY llO METHOD FOR SEPARATING PLURAL SHEETS CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS A division of METHOD FOR SEPARATING A BUNDLE OF PLURAL SHEETS (Ser. No. 75,099), filed Sept. 24, 1970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,936.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention In the newspaper industry, increased attention is being given to methods for stuffing the printed newspaper with inserts, such as classified advertising, TV guides, or other feature supplements. conventionally, one to four inserts may accompany the daily and Sunday editions. The recent increase in Post Office bulk mailing rates has contributed to the popularity of advertising in newspaper by inserts.

In the near future, printed newspapers will be delivered at belt speeds of 70,000 newspapers per hour. Thus, devices for separation and the stuffing of the newspaper are required to be accomplished at this speed in order to stay abreast of innovations in'the newspaper printing industry. Conventionally, separating is done on a rotary rack, the sides of the papers being split by a reciprocating pawl or by vacuuming and the stuffing is induced vertically from above.

2. Description of the Prior Art Fowler and Henkle 408,095 Curry and Linn 881,305 Nelson 1,616,061 Hathaway 1,845,412 Livingston, et al. 1,883,307 Snyder 3,052,463

These references disclose separating the newspapers with mechanical spreaders and vacuum techniques.

Note especially Fowler who teaches the use of spreader rollers 28 (column 3, lines 115-134 and column 4, lines 1-35) as well as a bottom spine 33 to separate the folds.

Curry uses a shaped guide, as well as lateral vacuum conduits for opening his top edges (see FIG. 3).

Nelson (column 2, line 25) uses rollers, V-trough and opener l7. Hathaway (FIGS. 38 and 40; page 7, lines 81-89) uses a horizontal probe 163.

Livingston uses a horizontal conveyor belt and a V- shaped opener.

Snyder uses a stationary horizontal plate 15, the newspapers being advanced in a horizontal plane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the folded newspaper is advanced in a vertical plane, such that its folded mid-section is supported upon an endless belt. The bottom sides adjacent the folded edge are rotatably grabbed by a plurality of rollers rotatably synchronized with the speed of the advancing belt. During this advancing, the leading edge of the advancing newspaper is engaged by a pointed probe which parts the free top and bottom edges of the newspaper from the vertical plane. The free edges are thus separated prior to stuffing. The method is characterized by its continuous in-line technique, avoiding the necessity for large floor space, and its relative simplicity which avoids the necessity for large capital expenditure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the present method for separating a newspaper;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a proposed advancing mechanism;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation; showing the probing of the newspaper leading edge during advancing;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation of an adjustable probing device;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the positioning roller;

FIG. 6 is a top plan of the separating mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the support baffle; and

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan, showing the drive mechanism for the positioning roller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, the present method of separating a newspaper is schematically illustrated, newspaper 10 being advanced in a vertical plane by means of endless belt 12, then rotatably grabbed at sides adjacent the folded mid-section by rollers 16 and pointedly probed at the leading upper edge by means of adjustable probe 14 which separates the folded sheets.

In FIG. 2, there is shown a fragmentary side elevation of a proposed mechanism for advancing newspaper 10 in a vertical plane, comprising an endless belt 12 mounted upon rollers 108 and 110, supported respectively upon shafts 76 and 86. These shafts may be supported in identical bracket 78, 88 affixed to table ends 46. Belt 12 is mounted to rotate between adjustable top side members 92 and 90. The newspaper guide baffle 18 includes a substantially vertical portion engaging the bottom part of the paper and a diverging upper portion 56 having an optional horizontal flange 58. Positioning and grabbing rollers 16 extend through cut-outs 20 in the bottom edges of baffle 18 to engage the newspaper sides.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, rollers 16 may be identically constructed, for example, to have a bevel of 10, 4, and 0 on their sides, while being mounted upon shafts 22, secured to universal joints 24, in turn connected to drive shafts 26. Shafts 26 are secured to drive pulleys 28. The driving mechanism for roller 16 is illustrated in FIG. 8, shafts 26 extending through plate 44 to engage drive pulleys 28. Drive belt 34 extends around the pulleys 28 and is tightened by means of pressurizing rollers 30. A motor 40 and pulley arrangement 42, 36, and 34, using belts 38 and 39, may drive differential 32 to engage drive pulleys 28, so as to rotate rollers 16 synchronously with the speed of belt 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, belt 12 may be driven by motor 84, having drive pulley 86 and drive belt 82, engaging driven pulley attached to shaft 76.

The separating probe 14 is illustrated particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, as including a teflon or like probing element 14, having a pointed end 58, pivotably supported upon shaft 60. A compression spring 62 may be secured at one end within shaft 60 and engaging knurled nut 64 at its top, so as to vary pressurization in a lateral direction upon the probe. Keyway 68 or the like and lock nut 66 provide for lateral adjustment of the probe in a variety of directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of belt 12 and according to the bulk of the paper being separated.

Bracket 70 in the shank of the shaft, compression spring 72, and lock nut 74 enable vertical adjustment of probe 12 to a variety of angles of attack of the newspaper leading edge.

As will be apparent, the distance of the probe from the end of the newspaper, the height of the probe point with respect to the height of the edge of the newspaper, as well as the lateral angle of the probe with respect to the axis of the advancing paper, and the vertical angle of the probe may be varied to accommodate different types of paper. Belt 12 speed and rate of rotation positioning rollers 16 may be varied to keep up with the printing press speed. Also, a stuffing baffle 52 having a slightly more divergent top 54 may be anteriorally positioned with respect to the baffle 18, wires, or like mechanism (not illustrated) may extend from the area of the probe 16 to the sides of channel 52, so as to hold the pages open as they are stuffed.

Positioning rollers 16 eliminate jamming on belt 12 and hold the newspaper down while it is being lineally advanced and during separating. In one construction, the probe 14 is constructed from Nylon round stock 1 V4 inches in diameter, turned to a 60 angle at its probing end and maintained at a 20 angle for the horizontal for penetration of the advancing newspaper.

Manifestiy, the baffle, belt, rollers, and probe may be varied without departing from the invention.

We claim:

1. Method for separating sheets in a bundle having a plurality of sheets, comprising:

A. lineally advancing said bundle and the sheets therein in a vertical plane with the lateral sides thereof being supported and with the free top edges of said sheets being presented at the top of said plane;

B. rotatably grabbing and advancing the bottom edges of the sides of said sheets during advancing while applying a downward urging pressure thereon; and

C. pointedly upwardly probing the leading edge of said bundle adjacent the free tops of said sheets, and simultaneously applying a downward force on the sheets so as to separate said sheets during advancing. 

1. Method for separating sheets in a bundle having a plurality of sheets, comprising: A. lineally advancing said bundle and the sheets therein in a vertical plane with the lateral sides thereof being supported and with the free top edges of said sheets being presented at the top of said plane; B. rotatably grabbing and advancing the bottom edges of the sides of said sheets during advancing while applying a downward urging pressure thereon; and C. pointedly upwardly probing the leading edge of said bundle adjacent the free tops of said sheets, and simultaneously applying a downward force on the sheets so as to separate said sheets during advancing. 